Researchers Say EPO/OHIM Study Is A Tale Without A Message 13/08/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A recent paper published by the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition criticises a joint study by the European patent and trademark offices as lacking insight about the economic effects of intellectual property.
Australia Eyes Copyright Act Amendment To Curb Downloading 11/08/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Australian government is seeking to amend its copyright act to address online copyright infringement. To that purpose, a discussion paper has issued for public input until 1 September. In particular, the paper looks at trends in similar nations and proposes measures to dry up business models operating outside of Australia, and to extend the responsibility of internet service providers.
Global Medical Students Call For Shift To Health Over Trade, R&D 08/08/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Universities Allied for Essential Medicines is calling for new incentive models for research and development so that new treatments can be found for neglected tropical diseases to fight antibiotic resistance, and is asking that health issues supersede trade interests.
Switzerland Continues Work On Changes To Online Copyright Rules 06/08/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Switzerland is considering the “modernisation” of its copyright law to adapt the rights and obligations of various stakeholders to the “realities” of the internet. The country’s generous exception on private use of downloaded material appears to be preserved in the proposed change but internet service providers might feel the pinch.
Legal Analysis Of CJEU Hearing On Spain’s Case Against Unitary Patent 05/08/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new legal analysis looks at the 1 July oral hearing of the European Court of Justice (CJEU) on Spain’s nullity actions against the regulations on the “unitary patent” and its language regime.
Compulsory Licences Needed For Affordable Hepatitis C Innovative Drug Regimens 05/08/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Compulsory licences should be issued to roll out generic versions of innovative HCV drugs. Only generic competition can push down the extortionate prices of these lifesaving medicines, while placing equitable access and public interest before monopolistic pharma companies’ business strategies, Daniele Dionisio argues.
UK Adopts Private Copying Exception As Some Rightholders Mull Legal Action 01/08/2014 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A new United Kingdom copyright exception for private copying cleared Parliament on 29 July and will become law in October. The change brought cheers from high-tech and digital rights groups. UK Music, however, said the new regulation will hurt creators and that it is considering legal action.
Poland Eyes IPR Reform To Combat Plagiarism In Scientific Theses 30/07/2014 by Jaroslaw Adamowski for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Polish Parliament is currently finalising work on a bill designed to make using anti-plagiarism software compulsory for Polish higher education institutions (HEIs). With the new law, universities are to become obliged to check all Bachelor’s, Master’s and Ph.D. theses to detect acts of plagiarism. However, local observers doubt whether the bill will provide Polish HEIs with sufficient means to counter this widespread problem and protect intellectual property.
Special Report: Update On Implementation Of The EU Patent Package 25/07/2014 by Maëli Astruc for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Significant progress has been made in the implementation of the European regulation to establish a European unitary patent and an international treaty which sets up a unified patent court. Given the loaded agenda for the coming year, it seems that a lot of work remains to be done. Meanwhile, an ongoing proceeding before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) initiated by Spain could bring down the whole system, according to sources.
Abundance Of Latin American Candidates For Senior WIPO Post 25/07/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment It has been said among some member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization that the next deputy director general responsible for development should come from the Latin American and Caribbean region. If that is the case, a look at some senior officials in Geneva from the region shows a significant pool of available talent from which to draw.